Leaf-creasing clamp



(No Model.)

J. KEEHN. LEAP CREASING CLAMP.

No. 538,520. gen-tented Apr. 30, I895.

rrED STATES PATENT FFI JOSEPH KEEHN, OF BURLINGTON, IOWA.

LEAF-CREASING CLAMP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters'Patent No. 538,520, dated April30, 1895.

Application filed July 23, 1894. Serial No. 518,389. (No mo'lel.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH KEEHN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Burlington, in the county of Des Moines and State of Iowa,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus forCreasing the Leaves of Books Preparatory to Binding; and I do herebydeclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in apparatus for creasing theleaves of books, preparatory to their being bound up into book form. I

In large books, especially those used for keeping public records, inorder to allow the book to be opened out flat it is necessary that theleaves, before binding, be creased a short distance from the inneredges. This will permit the leaves to turn upon the crease, as a hingeor pivot, instead of turning upon the place of binding, and by thismeans the book will lie fiat in an open condition. The method generallyemployed for creasing the leaf is to mark with a rule and then fold theleaf over by hand. This is a slow and laborious proceeding and theobject of my invention is to provide an improved machine, whereby anumber of leaves may be clamped and held at the proper point, so thatthey can be folded to produce the crease in a rapid and efficientmanner.

The invention consists in the novel con struction and combination ofparts hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a side elevation of a machineconstructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a perspectiveview showing the stationary and movable clamps disconnected from eachother. Fig. 3 is a perspective yiew of the gage detached. Fig. 4 is alongitudinal sectional view, on an enlarged scale, of a portion of thestationary clamp, showing the slot therein and the set-screw for holdingthe gage in place.

.In the said drawings the reference numeral 1, designates a table, ofany suitable construction upon which the clamps are mounted.

The numeral 2, designates the stationary clamp having a base 3, whichmay be bolted or otherwise secured to the clamp. Formed with this baseand the lower end of the clamp are lugs 4, in which is pivoted an elbowlever 5, one arm of which is connected with a rod 6, which in turn isconnected with a treadle 7, pivoted to the floor or other place orobject upon which the table is supported. The upper end of rod 6, isprovided with a series of holes 8, to accommodate it to differentheights of tables. This clamp is formed with three upwardly extendingarms 9, and with horizontal arm 10, having its upper edge turnedinwardly forming a clamping flange 12. The outer arms 9, are formed withlugs 13, with which engage corresponding lugs 14, on the movable clamp15, said lugs being pivoted to-.

gether by pivots 16, thereby forming a hinge connection between the twoclamps. Near its lower end the clamp 2, is provided with a rod 16,having an adjustable head 17, and a coiled spring 18, the inner end ofwhich fits within a recess in said clamp while its other end abutsagainst said head. By adjusting the head the tension of the spring canbe regulated. The opposite end of the rod 17, passes through the lowerend of themovable clamp and is provided with a head 19. The movableclamp is formed with vertical arms 20, and a horizontal arm 21, and aclamping flange 23, similar to the flange 12, of the stationary clamp.

The numeral 24., designates an adjustable gage for. determining thedistance from the edge at which the leaves are to be creased. Itconsists of a sheet metal plate, provided with a downwardly extendingarm 25, provided with a set screw 26, the shank of which passes througha slot 27, in the stationary clamp. By loosening this screw the gage maybe moved up and down. This gage lies against the inner side of saidclamp and near its upper edge is provided with a series of slots 28,through which pass guide pins 29, secured to said clamp. The upper edgeof the said gage is formed with a series of intersecting horizontal andvertical slits, forming tongues 30, which are bent inwardly and serve tosupport the edges of the bundle of leaves to be creased.

In normal condition, the clamps are open, that is to say, the coiledspring 18, pressing IOO the tongues of the gage.

against the nut 17, forces the rod 16, to the left, and the head 19, onthe opposite end of the rod, bearing against the lower end of themovable clamp causes its upper end to be forced away from the upper endof the stationary clamp. The gage is now adjusted according to thedistance from theedges the leaves are to be creased and a sufiicientnumber of leaves are then placed between the clamps with their loweredges resting upon The clamps are then brought together by depressingthe treadle which through the medium of rod 6, will throw the verticalarm of lever 5, outward which engaging with the lower end of the movableclamp, will force the upper end of the latter toward the stationaryclamp. The leaves are now securely held and can be folded by a ruler orotherwise. The leaves being creased the treadle is released and the rod17, and its coiled spring will open the clamps.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim is- 1. Thecombination with the stationary clamp, having a flange at its upper end,the

elbow lever pivoted to said clamp, and the vertically adjustable gage,of the movable clamp hinged to said stationary clamp with its lower endabutting against one of the arms of said lever, the movable rod passingthrough apertures in said clamps, having a head at one end and anadjustable not at the other, and the coiled spring interposed betweenthe said nut and the stationary clamp, substantially as described.

2. The combination with the stationary and movable clamps hinged orpivoted to each other, of the vertically adjustable gage consisting of aplate having a set screw working in a slot in one of said clamps theguide pins passing through slots near the upper end of said plate, andthe tongues formed by slitting the upper edge of said plate and turningthe metal thereof inwardly, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH KEEHN.

Witnesses:

F. O. GRANDSTAFF, J NO. J. SEERLEY.

